Paramedic official will retire

Deputy boss denies racism allegations

firing recommended

A Chicago Fire Department official accused of inquiring about the race of a paramedic who sought leave to tend to a hospitalized family member announced Monday that he would retire amid the department's effort to fire him.

In a written statement, Donald W. Walsh denied the allegation but said he would rather end his 30-year career than work for an administration that has taken "willful and deliberate actions" to "destroy a dedicated, hard working, and honorable employee."

Following an internal investigation, the department on Monday recommended that Walsh be terminated. Walsh, an assistant deputy chief paramedic, was given 96 hours to respond before a final recommendation was to be forwarded to Fire Commissioner Raymond Orozco for action.

"Multiple witnesses provided information that led to the finding that Mr. Walsh did in fact inquire as to the race of a paramedic before taking administrative action," Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said in a statement.

In addition, the investigation found that Walsh's actions improperly removed a functioning ambulance from service when he should have redeployed personnel to staff it. "Personnel were available to replace the excused paramedic but such staffing was not done and the result was a fully equipped ambulance sitting idle when it should have been available for medical runs," Langford said in the statement.

Walsh, 51, has been on paid administrative leave.

According to the department, an African-American paramedic on March 3 sought permission to leave his ambulance crew to tend to a family emergency. A field officer under Walsh's command said Walsh inquired whether the paramedic making the request was black or white.

After he was told the paramedic was black, Walsh allegedly told the field officer that a replacement would be needed before the paramedic could be relieved.

Walsh has vigorously denied the accusations in previous interviews. He did not respond to a request for comment Monday, aside from issuing the written statement through his wife.

"I have from the start denied such actions, and have all along stated my credibility, past career accomplishments, and character would prevail over the callous few that have made such outrageous claims to damage and destroy over 30 years of dedicated public service to the Chicago Fire Department and citizens of Chicago," Walsh said. "It is my opinion that the Fire Department's actions today are solely political retribution by the Fire Commissioner and certain administrators to discredit my reputation and career accomplishments on the Chicago Fire Department."

Walsh said he intended to file a complaint with the federal monitor investigating allegations of political discrimination in job actions such as hirings, firings and transfers.

In addition, Walsh said the Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local 2 had filed a grievance alleging his privacy rights were violated by city officials releasing details of the investigation to the media.

"My retirement will not stop my official actions and legal recourse to resolve this injustice," Walsh said.